2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand

[FoMoCo Fan]

Originally Posted by Hitman1970

After thinking about it the price difference between Taurus and Flex is about $3000 and the price difference between MKS and MKT is about $6000. Is there really that much more content in an MKT to justify this price? Flex is about 29K and MKT will be 44K. Is they really $16K more content in an MKT?

People - pricing is not about content, not in luxury goods. That Louis Vuitton handbag costs more to make than the one you can buy at WalMart, but not THAT much more. When you buy luxury goods, you are paying a premium for the "name" and for "exclusivity".

The cost to produce a good is not directly or proportionally related to cost. It may cost BMW $6,000 more to produce a 3 series than it does Chevy to produce a Malibu. But that doesn't mean that BMW will sell the 3 series for $6,000 more than the Malibu. They will sell it for as much as people are willing to pay for it, and if that happens to be $12,000 more than the Malibu, that's what they will charge. This is why luxury goods are so profitable to produce, IF they sell. That's the problem Mercedes has had with the R Class. They can't sell them for the price they want to. The market isn't there.

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by Hitman1970

After thinking about it the price difference between Taurus and Flex is about $3000 and the price difference between MKS and MKT is about $6000. Is there really that much more content in an MKT to justify this price? Flex is about 29K and MKT will be 44K. Is they really $16K more content in an MKT?

Yes.

MKT has everything in a loaded Flex as standard equipment except AWD and Navi.

[big swede]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

People - pricing is not about content, not in luxury goods. That Louis Vuitton handbag costs more to make than the one you can buy at WalMart, but not THAT much more. When you buy luxury goods, you are paying a premium for the "name" and for "exclusivity".

The cost to produce a good is not directly or proportionally related to cost. It may cost BMW $6,000 more to produce a 3 series than it does Chevy to produce a Malibu. But that doesn't mean that BMW will sell the 3 series for $6,000 more than the Malibu. They will sell it for as much as people are willing to pay for it, and if that happens to be $12,000 more than the Malibu, that's what they will charge. This is why luxury goods are so profitable to produce, IF they sell. That's the problem Mercedes has had with the R Class. They can't sell them for the price they want to. The market isn't there.

That is true, and don't get me started with Louis Vuitton, that's my wifes only vice. That's also why manufacturers would rather have you buy a loaded car and also one reason "stripper cars" are no longer made.

[Ahmad]

What happened? The MKT concept was really hot, but the production MKT is just plain weird. What went wrong?

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by Ahmad

What happened? The MKT concept was really hot, but the production MKT is just plain weird. What went wrong?

Strange, isn't it?

First, it's that long, low, bulbouse rear overhang that simply isn't there on the concept.

The front overhang appears longer, taller and flatter on the production vehicle too.

Also, the black textured plastic rocker moldings around the bottom of the thing are much more pronounced on the production version. It's an attempt to minimize the vehicles overall height which may well be greater than the concepts, too.

So many have criticized the current SRX as looking too much like a station wagon. I think that term applies to the MKT.

[urarock76]

Lincoln is a joke and should be taken out back and shot. Whoever let the Lincoln LS not see a series of updates and become the foundation for a revitalization should be drawn and quartered...and then shot.

Lincoln is the Pontiac of Ford. Always potential, and always failure.

[Prince Valiant]

It was whittled from the ugly tree. My God.

"The question alex? What is "The Modern Edsel"?"

[rob2299usa]

Originally Posted by Ahmad

What happened? The MKT concept was really hot, but the production MKT is just plain weird. What went wrong?

It looks like they designed the concept without any thought about federal regulations and then when they went back to federalize it and make it manufacturable they ended up with a bulbous front and rear because they were constrained by their desire to keep the design as close as possible.

Concepts are cool and all but if this thing had been designed from the start with all of the requirements in mind they probably could have made it look a lot better.

[AirCleaner]

This could be a big seller, but somehow I doubt it.

[BigThreeForever]

I'm still out on the MKT.

I truly feel that it is one of those models that really must be seen "in the metal" to actually reach a definitive verdict . . . and I look forward to doing so.

I feel that the MKT exterior is remarkably faithful to the "concept", unlike some other posters.

Whatever, I hope it performs well for Ford.

[WishIhadatruck]

I guess I should wait to make a final judgement until I see one in person but it appears to be very odd if not ugly looking from almost all angles. I think they'll struggle to see many of these at that price.

[ponchoman49]

With the demise of the Town Car, the ruination of Lincoln is complete.

[nsap]

I'm going to have to see this beast in person to really have a solid judgment on it. At some angles I really like it (front for example), but at others it's like "ehh...what?"

One thing is certain, it has the content and engine to run with the best.

[wescoent]

This is the main competition...

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by nsap

I'm going to have to see this beast in person to really have a solid judgment on it. At some angles I really like it (front for example), but at others it's like "ehh...what?"

One thing is certain, it has the content and engine to run with the best.

The content, platform, and powertrain choices are fantastic. You can criticize D3-2 as being inappropriate for a sports sedan, but it does big luxury cruiser very well.

Style is extremely polarizing, but that's the point. A lot of people hate it, but a lot of people absolutely love it.

Blandness has no place in the luxury segment anymore.